Prop rod stowage feature incorporated on to washer/overflow bottle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hood rod retention mechanism having a component, at least one extension, and a hood rod. The at least one extension is integrated into the component and has a base that extends from a surface of the component and a top. The hood rod is retained by the at least one extension when the hood rod is adjacent the at least one extension.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hood retention mechanism integrated into an existing component of a motorized vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many motorized vehicles today have hood rods that are used to prop open a vehicle's hood when the components that are located underneath the hood need to be accessed. Typically, the hood rod is placed on the end of the vehicle where the hood opens up, which makes the hood rod easily accessible to the consumer that opened the hood. Clips or holding devices are normally installed in order to retain the hood rod when it is not being used to support the hood. However, an additional manufacturing step is required in order to install these clips or holding devices, which adds to the manufacturing time and cost of the vehicle. These clips or holding devices are necessary in order to prevent the hood rod from moving at an undesirable time while the vehicle is in motion. For example, it would be undesirable for the hood rod to be displaced as a result of the vehicle being in motion.

Therefore, it would be desirable to develop a hood rod retention mechanism that is integrated into an existing component that is installed in the vehicle underneath the hood.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hood rod retention mechanism having a component, at least one extension, and a hood rod. The at least one extension is integrated into the component and has a base that extends from a surface of the component and a top. The hood rod is retained by the at least one extension when the hood rod is adjacent the at least one extension.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hood rod retention mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the extensions containing the hood rod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hood rod retention mechanism is generally shown at 10. The hood rod retention mechanism 10 includes an extension 12 that extends vertically from a surface 14 of a component 16. The extension 12 is integrated into the component 16, such that no additional clips or attachment devices are needed to connect the extension 12 to the component 16. Thus, additional manufacturing steps are eliminated since clips or attachment devices do not need to be installed after the component 16 is installed in a motorized vehicle (not shown). This makes for a more efficient manufacturing process by eliminating extra machining of the component to cut holes for receiving clips from the extension. This also eliminates assembly time as well as eliminating extra small clip components that can fall off the vehicle.

The extension 12 extends substantially vertical from the surface 14, and has a top 17 that is wider than a base 18. By having the top 17 of the extension 12 wider than the base 18 of the extension 12, a hood rod 20 is placed adjacent to the extension 12 and is retained by the extension 12. Thus, the hood rod 20 is placed on the surface 14 at a contact area 22. The contact area 22 is any portion of the surface 14 in which the hood rod 20 contacts. Typically, extensions 12 are placed on both sides of the contact area 22 so that the extensions 12 retain the hood rod 20. Therefore the wider tops 17 of the

The extensions 12 create retention points 24 between the extensions 12 for containing the hood rod 20. The distance between the extensions 12 on opposite sides of the contact area 22 is smaller than the diameter of the hood rod 20 at retention points 24. When enough force is applied to the hood rod 20, the hood rod 20 will pass between the extensions 12 at retention points 24.

A second extension 25 extending from the surface 14 can have a semi-circle shape. The second extension 25 can have a top 28 wider than a base 30 for the same reasons as described above. Therefore, when the hood rod 20 is adjacent to the extension 25 the top 28 of the extension 12 extends at least partially over the hood rod 20. The shape of the second extension 25 creates an area between the tops 28 of adjacent extensions 12, 25 that is smaller than the diameter of the hood rod 20. Thus, the tops 17, 28 of the adjacent extensions 12, 25 create the retention point 24. When the hood rod 20 is placed along the contact area 22, the extension 12, 25 retain the hood rod 20 and prevent the hood rod 20 from moving at undesirable times.

The hood rod retention mechanism 10 can have multiple extensions 12, 25 that are placed on both sides of the contact area 22. When extensions 12, 25 are placed on both sides of the contact area 22, the extensions 12, 25 are separated at a distance that is approximately the same as the diameter of the hood rod 20. The contact area 22 is also a width that is about the size of the diameter of the hood rod 20. Thus, when the hood rod 20 is placed along the contact area 22, the extensions 12, 25 contact the hood rod 20 and retain the hood rod 20 from moving at undesirable times. The extension 12, 25 can be placed either directly across the contact area 22 from each other or slightly off set from each other. In either of the positions, the tops 17, 28 of the extensions 12, 25 create the retention point 24 which retains the hood rod 20.

Further, the extensions 12 can have additional structural strength when at least one support 26 extends from a back side 28 of the extension 12 along the surface 14. The support 26 can have an angled surface 30 so that the support 26 contacts the extension 12 towards the top 17. Thus, the extension 12 has more surface area contact with the support 26 so that the support 26 will provide a maximum amount of strength to the extensions 12. In addition, any number of supports 26 can be used along the extensions 12 in order to create the necessary strength characteristics of the extension 12.

It should be appreciated that any combination of the embodiments described above can be combined. For example, any number of extensions 12, 25 extend from the surface 14 on either side of the contact area 22 in order to create any number of retention points 24 which secure the hood rod 20. The number of extensions 12, 25 used for a particular application depends on factors such as, but not limited to, the weight, length, or shape of the rod 20. Also, the size or shape of the component 16 can affect the number of extensions 12, 25 needed to retain the hood rod 20.

Typically, the component 16 has at least one other function in the vehicle. By way of explanation and not limitation, the component 16 can be a container that is used to hold the window washer fluid or coolant fluid, the front end module which is used to support multiple vehicle components such as a grill or headlights, or a radiator, or a shield, such as but not limited to, an upper close out or protection for an engine or cooling system. The component 16 can be any number of items that are located underneath the hood (not shown) of the vehicle, so long as the component 16 is made of a material that can be properly formed to include the extensions 12. Also, the component 16 must be located in an area underneath the hood that makes the hood rod 20 accessible and in a position where it properly supports the hood.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A hood rod retention mechanism comprising: a component; at least one extension, wherein said at least one extension is integrated into said component said at least one extension has a base that extends from a surface of said component and a top; and a hood rod, wherein said hood rod is retained by said at least one extension when said hood rod is adjacent said at least one extension.
 2. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said component is at least one selected from the group of: a window washer fluid container; a coolant fluid container; a shield; a front end module; and a radiator.
 3. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said extension extends substantially vertically from said component and said top of said extension is wider than said base of said extension.
 4. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said extension has a partial circle shaped top that covers at least a portion of said hood rod when said hood rod is adjacent to said extension.
 5. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said extensions are placed on both sides of said hood rod.
 6. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 5, wherein said extensions on both sides of said contact area are separated by a distance that is about the diameter of said hood rod, such that said extensions create at least one retention point in order to retain said hood rod.
 7. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a contact area on a surface of said component, wherein said hood rod contacts said component at said contact area.
 8. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said extension has at least a supporter that extends from a back side of said extension along said component, such that said at least one supporter gives additional strength to said extension.
 9. A hood rod retention mechanism comprising: a component; a contact area on a surface of said component, wherein a hood rod contacts said component at said contact area; a first extension integrated into said component on a first side of said contact area, wherein said first extension has a base that extends from said surface and a top; a second extension integrated into said component on a second side of said contact area, wherein said second extension has a base that extends from said surface and a top; and, at least one retention point created by said first extension and said second extension, wherein the distance between said first extension and said second extension across said contact area is about the diameter of said hood rod.
 10. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 9, wherein said component is at least one selected from the group of: a window washer fluid container; a coolant fluid container; a shield; a front end module; and a radiator.
 11. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 9, wherein said base of said first extension extends substantially vertically from said component.
 12. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 9, wherein said top of said first extension is wider than said base of said first extension so that at least a portion of said top covers at lest a portion of said hood rod when said hood rod is adjacent said first extension.
 13. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 9, wherein said second extension has a partial circle shape.
 14. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 13, wherein said top of said second extension covers at least a portion of said hood rod when said hood rod is adjacent to said extensions.
 15. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 9, wherein said extension has at least a supporter that extends from a back side of said extension along said component, such that said at least one supporter gives additional strength to said extension.
 16. A hood rod retention mechanism comprising: a washer fluid container; a contact area on a surface of said washer fluid container, wherein a hood rod contacts said washer fluid container at said contact area; at least one extension integrated in said washer fluid container, wherein said at least one extension has a base that extends from said surface and a top; and at least one retention point created by said first extension and said second extension, wherein the distance between said first extension and said second extension across said contact area is about the diameter of said hood rod.
 17. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 16, wherein said base of a first extension extends substantially vertically from said component, and said top of said first extension is wider than said base of said first extension so that at least a portion of said top covers at lest a portion of said hood rod when said hood rod is adjacent said first extension.
 18. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 17, wherein said extension has at least a supporter that extends from a back side of said extension along said component, such that said at least one supporter gives additional strength to said extension.
 19. The hood rod retention mechanism of claim 16, wherein a second extension has a partial circle shape, and said top of said second extension covers at least a portion of said hood rod when said hood rod is adjacent to said extensions. 